Reconsidering restraint: addressing chemical restraint in aged care
| Friday, February 27, 2026 |
| 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM |
| Semillon 2 and 3 |
Overview
Chelsea Felkai - Disability and Aged Care Pharmacist
Details
This session examines the use of chemical restraint in aged care and the vital role pharmacists play in promoting safer, person-centred approaches to care. It will explore current legislation and quality standards, identify strategies to reduce inappropriate use of psychotropic medicines, and highlight opportunities for pharmacists to support behavioural management through evidence-based, non-pharmacological interventions.
Learning objectives:
· Describe the legislative and quality standards framework relating to chemical restraint in aged care.
· Discuss the pharmacist’s role in identifying and reducing inappropriate use of psychotropic medicines.
· Recognise strategies to support behavioural management through non-pharmacological approaches.
Competency standards (2016): 1.5, 3.1, 3.5, 3.6
Speaker
Chelsea Felkai
Disability and Aged Care Pharmacist
My Village Pharmacy Whitebridge / University of Newcastle
Reconsidering restraint: addressing chemical restraint in aged care
Biography
Chelsea is a credentialled pharmacist, with a Master of International Public Health, and whom is waiting for her post-doctorate thesis acceptance in pharmacist support for people with intellectual disability. She provides medication reviews to people with intellectual disability focusing particularly on restrictive practices and chemical restraint, and has worked with disability organisations to improve their medication management practices. She currently owns two pharmacies in Newcastle, one of which supports a number of aged care facilities. She has worked to implement the Onsite Aged Care Pharmacist model within these aged care facilities and has supported the promotion of the ACOP model alongside the Newcastle and Central Coast PHN.
